Birmingham FC announce training centre architects

Birmingham City FC have announced the firm that will be in charge of bringing the team's new Sports Quarter training centre to life.

The complex for professional and academy players in Bordesley Green will sit alongside a flagship new 62,000-seat stadium.

In a statement the club said architects Populous were awarded the contract to bring "all the necessary facilities for the Men's, Women's and Academy teams onto a single site".

Head of infrastructure Nick Smith said the club's announcement was "another important step" in the delivery of the Sports Quarter.

"We are convinced that Populous will help us set new standards in sports infrastructure," he added.

"Together we can create a beacon of excellence that will inspire and support our local communities as well as setting the club up for success on the pitch."

The club bought the 48-acre former Birmingham Wheels motorsport site in Bordesley in 2024 and said its plans would include housing and hotels, recreational facilities and green space.

Twelve chimneys will surround the new stadium, which will also host different sporting and entertainment events and have a retractable roof and moveable pitch.

Populous, which has its UK headquarters in London, has previously worked on projects at Tottenham Hotspur and Wembley stadiums.

Declan Sharkey, the firm's senior principal and global director, added it was proud to be involved.

"Our aim is to combine our global expertise in elite training facility design with a bespoke approach, providing the club with an innovative, sustainable performance training environment and holistic environment for all of its teams and the staff who will use it," he said.

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